Gardens in May

 

Spring is slowly giving way to summer, but not without intermittent regressions. This morning's view from my window is of soft grey clouds with a band of pale blue, then one of puffy clouds and mist trailing in the hills beyond. Rain fell during the night and the new deck surface my husband is working on is shiny wet.

I'm harvesting radishes and lettuce from the garden, also rhubarb and plenty of herbs - oregano, thyme, and chives. A few moments were spent in the sunshine yesterday watching a dozen fat bees of busy amongst the purple chive flowers. Blooms on the pea plants mean that we'll soon be eating peas. The youngest grandchildren were here and found a handful of ripe strawberries to nibble on. How I love this month when the garden bursts with life. 

Foxgloves self-seed and this group chose a wonderful spot, in the back of the flower bed against the fence. There's a feverfew plant visiting with them, and columbines adding to the party. All grew without my interference. Well done, self-seeders!

I took myself to Butchart Gardens early last week and walked under the laburnum arches that mark the entrance from the parking lot. A canopy of golden rain. 

Himalayan Blue Poppies (meconopsis baileyi) were at their peak, with their translucent petals. Butchart Gardens does not have plant labels other than in the rose garden, but gives visitors a plant guide for each season. There are many tourists in the gardens now, with buses filling the parking lot. I heard many questions with people wondering what this or that plant is, along with oohs and ahhs at the beautiful displays. 

The Sunken Garden is one of the showpieces, created when Jenny Butchart, had the vision to beautify the limestone rock quarry emptied by her husband's business in the early 1900s. The story is told of visitors stopping by the property to see the gardens, and being served tea by Mrs. Butchart until the crowds became so great that the family began charging people. The original house is now used as a tea room and restaurant. Butchart Gardens is still owned by the family, and has been designated a National Historic Site of Canada. 

Back in my own very modest garden the roses are beginning to bloom, starting with fragrant Gertrude Jekyll. Peonies, too, and with the rain last night, the white Duchesse de Nemours blossoms are nodding towards the ground. 

For Mother's Day last week, I gave the mothers of my grandchildren a watercolour sketch done from a couple of photos. It was a fun project. I have been inspired by Monique who paints lovely simple images. She also shares them on her Instagram page. 

This week we will be making a short trip to the mainland to celebrate my parents' 70th wedding anniversary. It's a simple celebration with just them and my siblings and spouses. I am so thankful for their love throughout the years. So, there are things to prepare this week and I had better get to it.